pippa,
are you using the 5% once or twice a day? if you using twice a day, cut back to once a day and see what happens. also, make sure you aren't using too much of the cleanser as it can be drying to some people.

I don't know how long it would take your skin to get used to it, RCW would probably know better. I do recall her saying that BHA in most forms aren't enough to do anything, get washed off before they get a chance to do anything or aren't the right pH. So I'm guessing that even though we have used stuff with it in the past, we really weren't getting any benefit from it...and our skin probably didn't have the opportunity to react to it.

3A/3B
I love Jessicurl HCC, Jessicurl Too Shea, KCKT, KCCC, CK and HESMU...but it took a LOT of trial error to get to these products that consistently work for ME.

pippa,
are you using the 5% once or twice a day? if you using twice a day, cut back to once a day and see what happens. also, make sure you aren't using too much of the cleanser as it can be drying to some people.

Originally Posted by Windflower

Yeah I can vouch for using too much of the cleanser. Just a very little bit is enough.

3A/3B
I love Jessicurl HCC, Jessicurl Too Shea, KCKT, KCCC, CK and HESMU...but it took a LOT of trial error to get to these products that consistently work for ME.

My skin is already looking incredibly better after a few weeks of RCW's routine. I'm washing twice daily with PSF Castile, and in the mornings I apply 2% BHA followed by the vit. c serum 30 minutes later, then jojoba mixed with H.A. serum 10 minutes after that. At night after cleansing I apply more BHA followed by Benzaclin with a bit of H.A. added to reduce dryness. I have a few small blemishes remaining, but it is a vast improvement from where I was a month ago. Thanks RCW!

I tried the castile cleanser for the first time today. It left my skin soft but a little tight but I'm sure it'll get better. I used the 5% SA and I'm thinking it may be too strong. It stung and my face got red. I used to use the Paula's Choice in the same strength but it never stung. I noticed though that the PSF one has alcohol in it. It thought that was a no-no . Oh well.

Anyway, I'm giving all of this a chance. I need to! I made the stupid mistake of doing the OCM on my face and it made me break out big time. I even got a cyst! I hope this stuff makes my clear skin come back.

eta: Ugh, I just realized that the Paula's Choice SA I had been using was 2%. Dang...I hope the 5% won't make my face worse.

I tried the castile cleanser for the first time today. It left my skin soft but a little tight but I'm sure it'll get better. I used the 5% SA and I'm thinking it may be too strong. It stung and my face got red. I used to use the Paula's Choice in the same strength but it never stung. I noticed though that the PSF one has alcohol in it. It thought that was a no-no . Oh well.

Anyway, I'm giving all of this a chance. I need to! I made the stupid mistake of doing the OCM on my face and it made me break out big time. I even got a cyst! I hope this stuff makes my clear skin come back.

eta: Ugh, I just realized that the Paula's Choice SA I had been using was 2%. Dang...I hope the 5% won't make my face worse.

Originally Posted by Agent Scarlett

OCM sucks for acne-prone people. It'll clog you up really well. We need to wash natural oils off our faces each day, not just rub more oil into it.

The PSF and DY BHA's have a lower pH than Paula's Choice, and therefore there is more Free Acid Value (FAV), so it's not really a surprise that you're not used to using a real acid and may experience some irritation. The alcohol in both PSF and DY is SD40 alcohol, which you need for the acid to penetrate the skin, but it's not really drying because it evaporates fairly quickly. It's nothing like isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. If it's too strong for you, you can just back off to every-other-day for now and build up as you tolerate it, or order the 2% instead and save the 5% for later on, or for spot treatment.

I tried the castile cleanser for the first time today. It left my skin soft but a little tight but I'm sure it'll get better. I used the 5% SA and I'm thinking it may be too strong. It stung and my face got red. I used to use the Paula's Choice in the same strength but it never stung. I noticed though that the PSF one has alcohol in it. It thought that was a no-no . Oh well.

Anyway, I'm giving all of this a chance. I need to! I made the stupid mistake of doing the OCM on my face and it made me break out big time. I even got a cyst! I hope this stuff makes my clear skin come back.

eta: Ugh, I just realized that the Paula's Choice SA I had been using was 2%. Dang...I hope the 5% won't make my face worse.

Originally Posted by Agent Scarlett

OCM sucks for acne-prone people. It'll clog you up really well. We need to wash natural oils off our faces each day, not just rub more oil into it.

The PSF and DY BHA's have a lower pH than Paula's Choice, and therefore there is more Free Acid Value (FAV), so it's not really a surprise that you're not used to using a real acid and may experience some irritation. The alcohol in both PSF and DY is SD40 alcohol, which you need for the acid to penetrate the skin, but it's not really drying because it evaporates fairly quickly. It's nothing like isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. If it's too strong for you, you can just back off to every-other-day for now and build up as you tolerate it, or order the 2% instead and save the 5% for later on, or for spot treatment.

Originally Posted by RedCatWaves

That is interesting because I have wondered about PC SA myself. I have been using it on and off for a good 7-8 years and sometimes it keeps me clear and sometimes I don't feel like it is doing anything.

RCW, what is the ph for PSF and DY's SA and which one would you recommend for someone who has only used PC's SA? I am currently using PC SA twice a day but I don't really feel like I am getting any kind of reaction. I do have sensitive, acne prone skin. Although, my skin is super oily, it gets irritated very easily and when it does it flakes and peels like crazy.

That is interesting because I have wondered about PC SA myself. I have been using it on and off for a good 7-8 years and sometimes it keeps me clear and sometimes I don't feel like it is doing anything.

RCW, what is the ph for PSF and DY's SA and which one would you recommend for someone who has only used PC's SA? I am currently using PC SA twice a day but I don't really feel like I am getting any kind of reaction. I do have sensitive, acne prone skin. Although, my skin is super oily, it gets irritated very easily and when it does it flakes and peels like crazy.

PC's SA has a pH of 3.5 I believe. It's doing a little something, but not as much as DY's or PSF's SA's, which both have a pH of 1.9. Since you're sensitive, you should always start low and move up, so I would suggest you start with 2% and increase to 5% only if you need it. They're both great products (DY and PSF), so you can't go wrong with either brand.

That is interesting because I have wondered about PC SA myself. I have been using it on and off for a good 7-8 years and sometimes it keeps me clear and sometimes I don't feel like it is doing anything.

RCW, what is the ph for PSF and DY's SA and which one would you recommend for someone who has only used PC's SA? I am currently using PC SA twice a day but I don't really feel like I am getting any kind of reaction. I do have sensitive, acne prone skin. Although, my skin is super oily, it gets irritated very easily and when it does it flakes and peels like crazy.

PC's SA has a pH of 3.5 I believe. It's doing a little something, but not as much as DY's or PSF's SA's, which both have a pH of 1.9. Since you're sensitive, you should always start low and move up, so I would suggest you start with 2% and increase to 5% only if you need it. They're both great products (DY and PSF), so you can't go wrong with either brand.

Originally Posted by RedCatWaves

Thanks, the PC SA that I have been using is 3.2 ph but her SA's range from 3.2-3.4. Ok dumb question coming. I have been using PC SA(with some results but not very noticeable per say) so when I switch over to PSF or DY SA what kind of results can I expect (assuming that I am using it correctly and start at a very low gradient level)?

do you apply the SA and then wait 30 minutes before applying the next product? Instead of allowing your skin to neutralize the SA, your next product is doing this, so you are not seeing the results that you want.

do you apply the SA and then wait 30 minutes before applying the next product? Instead of allowing your skin to neutralize the SA, your next product is doing this, so you are not seeing the results that you want.

Originally Posted by Windflower

I wasn't but I have been ever since I learned that from RCW but for the most part it still hasn't seemed to make much of a difference. It almost seems like my skin has gotten "use" to it or something.

That is interesting because I have wondered about PC SA myself. I have been using it on and off for a good 7-8 years and sometimes it keeps me clear and sometimes I don't feel like it is doing anything.

RCW, what is the ph for PSF and DY's SA and which one would you recommend for someone who has only used PC's SA? I am currently using PC SA twice a day but I don't really feel like I am getting any kind of reaction. I do have sensitive, acne prone skin. Although, my skin is super oily, it gets irritated very easily and when it does it flakes and peels like crazy.

PC's SA has a pH of 3.5 I believe. It's doing a little something, but not as much as DY's or PSF's SA's, which both have a pH of 1.9. Since you're sensitive, you should always start low and move up, so I would suggest you start with 2% and increase to 5% only if you need it. They're both great products (DY and PSF), so you can't go wrong with either brand.

Originally Posted by RedCatWaves

Thanks, the PC SA that I have been using is 3.2 ph but her SA's range from 3.2-3.4. Ok dumb question coming. I have been using PC SA(with some results but not very noticeable per say) so when I switch over to PSF or DY SA what kind of results can I expect (assuming that I am using it correctly and start at a very low gradient level)?

Originally Posted by JerseyCurl

One would hope that you would achieve clearer pores, more even skin surface and a good level of skin turnover (exfoliation).

And, yes, you do have to wait 30 minutes after the application of any leave-on acid products to allow them time to work before the skin naturally neutralizes them.

(disclaimer: the 30 minute wait time does not apply when using high level acids as peels. Those should be neutralized at whatever the recommended time limit is.)

PC's SA has a pH of 3.5 I believe. It's doing a little something, but not as much as DY's or PSF's SA's, which both have a pH of 1.9. Since you're sensitive, you should always start low and move up, so I would suggest you start with 2% and increase to 5% only if you need it. They're both great products (DY and PSF), so you can't go wrong with either brand.

Originally Posted by RedCatWaves

Thanks, the PC SA that I have been using is 3.2 ph but her SA's range from 3.2-3.4. Ok dumb question coming. I have been using PC SA(with some results but not very noticeable per say) so when I switch over to PSF or DY SA what kind of results can I expect (assuming that I am using it correctly and start at a very low gradient level)?

Originally Posted by JerseyCurl

One would hope that you would achieve clearer pores, more even skin surface and a good level of skin turnover (exfoliation).

And, yes, you do have to wait 30 minutes after the application of any leave-on acid products to allow them time to work before the skin naturally neutralizes them.

(disclaimer: the 30 minute wait time does not apply when using high level acids as peels. Those should be neutralized at whatever the recommended time limit is.)

Originally Posted by RedCatWaves

Well, I have noticed some softness in my skin just by using the PSF cleanser sample, the DY Emu oi and PSF HA sample but I have been using these with the PC SA and I am starting to think that that may be the dead weight in my skin care routine.

So, I switch over to the PSF 2% SA, how often would you recommend using it to begin with? Nightly, every other night?? Thanks again for all of your help.

Thanks, the PC SA that I have been using is 3.2 ph but her SA's range from 3.2-3.4. Ok dumb question coming. I have been using PC SA(with some results but not very noticeable per say) so when I switch over to PSF or DY SA what kind of results can I expect (assuming that I am using it correctly and start at a very low gradient level)?

Originally Posted by JerseyCurl

One would hope that you would achieve clearer pores, more even skin surface and a good level of skin turnover (exfoliation).

And, yes, you do have to wait 30 minutes after the application of any leave-on acid products to allow them time to work before the skin naturally neutralizes them.

(disclaimer: the 30 minute wait time does not apply when using high level acids as peels. Those should be neutralized at whatever the recommended time limit is.)

Originally Posted by RedCatWaves

Well, I have noticed some softness in my skin just by using the PSF cleanser sample, the DY Emu oi and PSF HA sample but I have been using these with the PC SA and I am starting to think that that may be the dead weight in my skin care routine.

So, I switch over to the PSF 2% SA, how often would you recommend using it to begin with? Nightly, every other night?? Thanks again for all of your help.

Originally Posted by JerseyCurl

Since you are sensitive, I'd start every-other-night. If you do OK, but still want more exfoliation, then bump to every night.

OMG! My face is on fire. I washed my face with the cleanser tonight and used a facial brush and my face started burning. So, I rinsed it off and waited about 10 minutes before putting my Retin-A on (I use .1%...have been for years) and it took everything I had not to rinse my face. I think what really screwed me was using the 5% SA earlier today (I need to work my way up to it) and using the brush. I just ordered the 2% SA. So, I'm going to skip the brush for now and maybe use the SA every other day. I thought my skin was tough enough to handle anything given that I've used many topical ointments for acne in the past! lol

RCW, thanks for explaining the alcohol in the SA. Makes perfect sense! The PC SA is definitely not acidic enough...I really didn't think it did much for me anyway.

I'm sure that tomorrow will be a better day now that I have a better idea of what I'm doing. I'll keep ya all posted!!